Decision details

SEND Placement sufficiency: Placement sufficiency response - proposed next steps

Decision Maker: Assistant City Mayor - Education, Libraries and Community Centres

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To respond to managing placement sufficiency demands as the SEND Pupil Place Planning model indicates that the demand for Special School places will exceed capacity over the next 10 years.

Decision:

Agree that up to £210k be added to the capital programme to be funded from ring-fenced high needs grant in order to carry out feasibility studies across a number of special school sites (this may include identifying potential satellite sites also).

 

Agree that should our DfE Special Free School application be unsuccessful; the Executive will welcome a further report detailing the need for a Special Free School funded by the Council/ Capital budget. This will include proposed costs and viable sites.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure sufficiency of SEND placements in Leicester City.

Alternative options:

SEND pupil planning data indicates a significant gap in Special School provision within the city. Without additional developments children will need independent special school placements which are more costly and do not enable pupils to be educated in their local area.

Publication date: 02/06/2023

Date of decision: 02/06/2023

Effective from: 10/06/2023

Accompanying Documents: